Simulation study on mass transfer characteristics and disk structure optimization of a rotating disk reactor with high viscosity region

Abstract

Due to the excellent film‐forming specific surface area of the disk reactor, its application in the polymer devolatilization process can greatly improve the devolatilization performance of the equipment. In view of this, the fluid volume function method in computational fluid dynamics is used to simulate the film forming performance and surface renewal performance in high viscosity zone of disk reactor. In the disk window area, the liquid film thickness becomes thinner and the surface update frequency becomes faster, indicating that the disk window has a positive effect. The devolatilization performance of five new disk structures under different operating conditions is compared and analyzed. It was found that the influence of liquid level height on film area was greater than that of viscosity and rotation speed, the porous sector disk has excellent surface renewal performance and the baffle can achieve better mass transfer efficiency at a distance of 45–60 mm from the disk.